1778 English cricket season

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1778 English cricket season
1777
1779

The 1778 English cricket season was the seventh in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of five first-class matches have survived.

Contents

Matches

Five first-class match scorecards survive from 1778, four of them involving Hampshire XIs. [1] [2]

Three other matches are known to have been played during the season, including a return match between Chertsey and an England side. [8]

First-class debutants

The following players made their first known appearance during the 1778 season.

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John Small was an English professional cricketer who played during the 18th century and had one of the longest careers on record. Born at Empshott, Hampshire, he is generally regarded as the greatest batsman of the 18th century and acknowledged as having been the first to master the use of the modern straight bat which was introduced in the 1760s. He probably scored the earliest known century in important cricket. The strength of the Hambledon/Hampshire team during Small's prime years can be seen in the team being rated the (unofficial) Champion County in 10 seasons: 1766–1771, 1776–1777, 1779 and 1783. He died at Petersfield, where he was in residence for most of his life and where he established businesses.

Richard Nyren (1734–1797) was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket during the heyday of the Hambledon Club. A genuine all-rounder and the earliest known left-hander of note, Nyren was the captain of Hampshire when its team included players like John Small, Thomas Brett and Tom Sueter. Although the records of many matches in which he almost certainly played have been lost, he made 51 known appearances between 1764 and 1784. He was known as the team's "general" on the field and, for a time, acted as the club secretary as well as taking care of matchday catering for many years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1772 English cricket season</span> Cricket season review

In the 1772 English cricket season, it became normal practice to complete match scorecards and there are surviving examples from every subsequent season. Scorecards from 1772 have been found for three eleven-a-side matches in which the Hampshire county team played against an England team, and for one top-class single wicket match between Kent and Hampshire. The three Hampshire v England matches have been unofficially recognised by certain sources as first-class, although no such standard existed at the time. Prior to 1772, only four scorecards have survived, the last from a minor match in 1769.

Joseph Miller was a noted English cricketer who is generally considered to have been one of the greatest batsmen of the 18th century. He is mostly associated with Kent but also made appearances for All-England and Surrey. First recorded in the 1769 season, Miller made 65 known appearances from then to 1783. He was unquestionably an outstanding batsman and perhaps second only to John Small in the 18th century.

William Yalden was an English cricketer who played in the second half of the 18th century and was one of the earliest known players to be classed as a wicket-keeper-batsman. Yalden played mainly for Chertsey and Surrey. He was a regular member, sometimes as captain, of England teams. In addition, he played as a "given man" for both Hampshire and Kent. He was known as 'The Yold' and this nickname was occasionally used in match scorecards. As Yalden was born in about 1740, it may be assumed that he began his career in the 1760s, but the earliest mention of him is in 1772 when he was 32. He is known to have played in 49 matches until his last in 1785.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laleham Burway</span>

Laleham Burway is a 1.6-square-kilometre (0.62 sq mi) tract of water-meadow and former water-meadow between the River Thames and Abbey River in the far north of Chertsey in Surrey. Its uses are varied. Part is Laleham Golf Club. Semi-permanent park homes in the west forms residential development along with a brief row of houses with gardens against the Thames. A reservoir and water works is on the island.

Chertsey Cricket Club in Surrey is one of the oldest cricket clubs in England, the foundation of the club dating to the 1730s. The club is based in Chertsey and plays in the Surrey Championship.

William Palmer was an English cricketer who played during the 1760s and 1770s. He was born and died in Coulsdon, Surrey. As a top-order batsman, he was a member of the local Coulsdon Cricket Club and also played county cricket for Surrey. Most of Palmer's career was before cricket's statistical record began in the 1772 season so relatively little is known of him. However, he regularly played in noteworthy matches until 1776. He has been recorded in 24 eleven-a-side matches and in one top-class single wicket match. He was last recorded playing for Coulsdon against Chertsey in 1784 when he was 47 years old.

Henry Attfield was an English cricketer who is recorded in a total of 27 matches between 1773 and 1789, mainly for Chertsey and Surrey (14). Born in Bagshot, he lived for much of his life in Chertsey, where he was a sawyer by trade. Besides Chertsey and Surrey, Attfield played in three matches for England teams, and once for the Duke of Dorset's XI. In addition, he was twice a "given man" for Hampshire. His name was usually shortened to 'Field' and this was often used on match scorecards.

In the 1773 English cricket season, there was a downturn in the fortunes of the Hambledon Club as their Hampshire team lost every match they are known to have played, and some of their defeats were heavy. Their poor results owed much to star bowler Thomas Brett having been injured. Three other county teams were active: Kent, Middlesex and Surrey. Teams called England took part in five matches, all against Hampshire, and won all five.

The 1774 English cricket season was the third in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of five first-class matches have survived.

The 1775 English cricket season was the fourth in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of four first-class matches have survived.

The 1776 English cricket season was the fifth in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of seven first-class matches have survived. The earliest printed cricket scorecard templates were introduced during 1776.

The 1777 English cricket season was the sixth in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of six first-class matches have survived. James Aylward made a record score of 167 runs that stood until 1820.

The 1779 English cricket season was the eighth in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of five first-class matches have survived.

The 1780 English cricket season was the ninth in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecards of four first-class matches have survived. The first six-seam cricket balls were used during the season.

The 1784 English cricket season was the 13th in which matches have been awarded retrospective first-class cricket status. The scorecard of only one first-class match has survived.

Thomas Swayne was a noted professional cricketer who played for Surrey in the 1770s.

William Bartholomew, was an English first-class cricketer.

In English cricket, the years from 1751 to 1775 are notable for the rise of the Hambledon Club and the continuing spread of the sport across England. The Laws of Cricket underwent a re-codification in 1775, including the introduction of the leg before wicket rule and the addition of the third stump to the wicket.

References

  1. Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians (ACS) (1981) A Guide to Important Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles 1709 – 1863. Nottingham: ACS.
  2. Results, English Domestic Season 1778, CricInfo. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  3. England v Hampshire XI, scorecard, Cricinfo. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  4. Hampshire XI v England, scorecard, Cricinfo. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  5. Chertsey v England, scorecard, Cricinfo. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  6. Hamoshire XI v Surrey XI, scorecard, Cricinfo. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  7. Surrey XI v Hampshire XI, scorecard, Cricinfo. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  8. Other matches in England 1778, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-02-10.

Further reading